Woke up middle-aged, 45 pounds overweight, and looking for my bicycles!

[mimitabby]

and for starting out, you don't need fancy bike duds anyway! it's cold out (well, maybe not everywhere) WELCOME TO TE!
Keep reading, you'll find that you are far from alone.

[teigyr]

I can relate

I rode a lot. I was active and never had a weight problem. My legs were muscular and while I wasn't always happy with myself (could never be good enough) in retrospect, I wasn't bad.

I got a job that was more demanding. I moved to a state where it rains LOTS. I dated, got engaged, and got married. For my bout of single-ness up here, I did try to exercise but once I met DH, all of that went by the wayside. I couldn't just go to the gym at midnight after work anymore not to mention there was always far more interesting things to do.

I refused to think about the middle-aged part. Scary stuff. I do know that my pants ceased to fit, my legs jiggled a bit, and I was no longer in shape.

This past year I signed up for a century. DH, who was always active before me too, bought a bike. We started riding. I also signed up for a triathlon. I ended up doing two. Besides the running and swimming (and biking, of course) I've started doing yoga for flexibility and weight training because I know I should. The weight comes off slowly but it IS coming off! I also am watching what I eat this winter, winter is a good time to do those things because it's difficult to diet when you're doing tri's or centuries.

I still think there isn't enough progress but it's fun when I end up outriding DH. He rides more than me but I crosstrain more than him. He also made the comment that I was strong and he could really tell the muscles I've developed.

So like the others have said, you just get out there. The pounds came on slowly, they'll go away slowly. Be patient, mix it up a bit (it works better for me when I do many activities, my body gets used to cycling and then ceases to drop weight), and don't be too hard on yourself. Oh and if you ever lack motivation, sign up for an event. THAT will inspire you to keep training

[mimitabby]

hey Teigyr, what state did you move to that it rained a lot in?

[Trek420]

hey Teigyr, what state did you move to that it rained a lot in?

Whadya mean it rains a lot there?

[teigyr]

Whadya mean it rains a lot there?

I know! I was shocked. I guess I never really thought about how it got so green!

Seriously, I was of the "but I love rain!" sort keeping in mind I was used to Southern Calif rain. Dealing with the 'Fall/Winter/Spring Rain Season' takes some getting used to Oh and sometimes we get the 'It's summer, let it rain!' also.

[Trek420]

I know! I was shocked. I guess I never really thought about how it got so green!

Seriously, I was of the "but I love rain!" sort keeping in mind I was used to Southern Calif rain. Dealing with the 'Fall/Winter/Spring Rain Season' takes some getting used to Oh and sometimes we get the 'It's summer, let it rain!' also.

Now I'm going to have to double check the weather reports with you I keep hearing "oh, it's a beautiful day here today".

I thought you just watered the plants a lot more there

Give me my brown hills Can you believe it's almost November? It makes me appreciate that brief time when the hills are brilliant green and covered in wildflowers.

And they say we don't have seasons in CA

[ibcycling]

Whadya mean it rains a lot there?

I was kinda wondering the same thing. Doesn't rain much at all here!

Lora

[deedolce]

Jayjay,
Welcome! I loved hearing about your 'competitive' thinking - and getting back on a bike will make it come back to you, and it' s a great motivator! Especially when , after time, you start passing other riders after having everyone pass you! (I'm just getting to that point!) I love the feeling of being 'all that' when I get out on my bike. At least I am, compared to my invisible, polite, middle-aged mild mannered school teacher persona. ON a bike I transform into a bad-a** dynamo in lycra, racing young male roadies out of stop lights after riding 60+ miles!

It's a joy to ride a bike!

[jayjay]

... ON a bike I transform into a bad-a** dynamo in lycra, racing young male roadies out of stop lights after riding 60+ miles! ...

Deedolce, you've probably ridden in my neck of the woods, if on occasion if you ride long distances from Davis, in the Westward direction. I see lots of Davis folks on my mountian....

[MM_QFC!]

Whadya mean it rains a lot there?

a bit o' TD: yep, nothing but rain...poor ol' soggy, soaked, moss-between-the-toes Seattle! (I admit to good naturedly perpetuating the thinking that it rains all the time here)

I moved to the NW many years ago from a location noted for idyllic aka vacation weather - the Caribbean (after having grown up in NYC area). I've found that the rain doesn't really stop anyone from continuing to participate in whatever their favorite outdoor activity or sport is...and we don't really get harsh temps in either direction or more rainfall...but it does rain more often here and there is that 11-shades of gray factor in the winter. No place does blue and green like Seattle though, right web-footed neighbors?!!

[teigyr]

No place does blue and green like Seattle though, right web-footed neighbors?!!

Very true. And oddly enough, where I lived in California (southern, even!) had more annual rainfall. The difference is down there it was in clustered storms, in the PNW it is this constant dripping. Kinda

Actually it's not that bad. Mostly.

[blueskies]

Actually it's not that bad. Mostly.

Easy to say now. Let's talk again in February.

[Trek420]

(I admit to good naturedly perpetuating the thinking that it rains all the time here)

I know you do that on purpose to keep us from all moving North.

[KnottedYet]

Naw, it doesn't rain here all winter... the air is just really "soft."

[MM_QFC!]

I know you do that on purpose to keep us from all moving North.

he-he-he-he...busted... am sure that you'd be the exception to that though, Trek!